The Power of a Muse

Seems like a lot of artists, have a muse. Someone or something that gives them their inspiration. The incredible artist, Sharon Tomlinson talks about her muse Norah'S (Sharon spelled backward, quite often. I read an interview on JustBeConnected, where she tells of how her muse has to do with the whole left brain/right brain thing. In all the years that I've been creating, I never really stopped to think about my muse, until recently. I decided that I have two muses, one a physical entity and one a spiritual. So, I ask you... does a 6 year old count as a muse? I think so. I've been painting a lot of young girls lately, but it is not really a representation of my daughter on canvas. It's more of a self portrait. I know...you are totally confused. You see...I kinda feel like I was robbed of my girly girl childhood. As many of you know, I was adopted at three days old by wonderful parents who were much older than typical parents. They had a natural son finishing college when I was born. Up until I was about 6 years old, everything was great. A typical childhood...then my mom got sick. It started out as a series of small strokes that eventually led to Alzheimer's Disease. I slowly lost her over many years . She spent the last 17 years of her life completely debilitated in a nursing home. I grew up fast. I had a wonderful Aunt who I spent a lot of time with, but it just isn't the same as your mom. But, now I have this great gift of a daughter who allows me to live my girly childhood again on a daily basis. Oh my gosh...what fun it is! I see things through her that I never experienced, never imagined and now can live out through my creativity in my paintings. I can ask her, "What do you think I should paint next?" And off her imagination goes...sweeping me off my feet and taking me to places that I never thought I would go. It starts off as, "I think you should paint a fairy". And, in my logical mind I think...I've done too many single fairies lately. So I respond, "Maybe I should paint two fairies, this time." She excitedly latches onto this and says," No Mom...three French fairy Princesses!!! They are sleeping under the most beautiful cherry tree!" As she does her best ballerina spins around the room, I sit there stunned. Where does this come from! I think...I can't do that. But then the Universe (my other muse) tells me...Go with it. This is your gift. And so I do.

"La Fée Princesse Sieste" or "The Fairy Princess Napping". Currently on eBay. Click here to get in on the bidding.

And here's a video of the making of the painting. Enjoy. Love, Wyanne

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